Source of the post But is this how it really is? From what we read in science news stories earth-like planets are being found right and left! (and multiple ones in the same solar system!)

"Earth-like" in news stories on exoplanets only means that the planets have near-earth diameters (usually, since the most prolific method of detection is transits and those detect diameters; much more rarely, masses are also known) and theoretical temperatures. Nothing else. The vast majority of those planets should be nothing like the Earth. To illustrate it, an ET watching our Solar System from afar would deem not only the Earth but also Venus and Mars Earth-like (Mars only marginally so). Yet, Mars is a cold lifeless desert and Venus is a superhot lifeless greenhouse of a desert.

Thanks, is that because the vast majority of planets should not be like each other? I'm not in the camp that "Earth is special" until we have a much larger sample size. I think that if we explore enough of our galaxy, we'll probably find 100s of planets like Earth, but we lack the ability to see that far.

Also, a planet need not be earth-like for it to be habited- there are all different kinds of exotic biochemistry possibilities.

*It is supposed to say "long dreamed of", it must have auto "corrected" and made my post sound contradicting.

Both terms are adequate. If there are wonders out in cosmos to be dreamt of, than there must also be horrors to be dreaded. Let us hope that when true first contact happens, it's with something that can be described as the former, and not the latter.

Source of the post Thanks, is that because the vast majority of planets should not be like each other?

No, it's because diameter, mass and theoretical temperature (a function of stellar flux) are just three properties that affect the environment of planets. There's a whole lot more, such as rotation, inclination, type of atmosphere, percentage of volatiles in the composition, other aspects of composition, number, size and distance of moons, and so on. These, at the moment, are all pretty much unknown (and some will remain so for a very long time), and planets of the same size and with similar theoretical temperatures will differ wildly in their environments if those parameters differ significantly. To be truly like Earth they'd have to fall into pretty narrow parametric ranges, so truly earth-like planets should be pretty rare out there.On the other hand, planets do tend to exhibit a pretty wide range in intrinsic environmental conditions. Even Venus-like thick-atmosphere ovens will have temperate conditions at certain heights in the atmosphere, so your planet doesn't have to be truly and fully earth-like to include some areas with more or less earth-like conditions. There should be a whole lot more marginally habitable planets out there than fully habitable ones.

Which brings me back to the topic: Vladimir, does the latest evolution in the planet-creation algorythm take into account this intrinsic variability in environmental conditions or was that postponed to a future iteration?

Source of the post Which brings me back to the topic: Vladimir, does the latest evolution in the planet-creation algorythm take into account this intrinsic variability in environmental conditions or was that postponed to a future iteration?

Yes, SE uses some factors to determine the final conditions. These parameters affecting it, and varies on each planet:

- initial amount of gases- mass, radius => gravity- insolation, UVX radiation level- tidal heating- age of the planet- life (currently only organic multicellular, it converts CO2 to O2, if planet if old enough)

Thanks, for all the elaboration guys With the finding of water in the Trappist-1 system, how likely does that make life on one of its planets? Still unlikely because of the flaring nature of the parent star?

Good point about Venus, there are actually some ideas that we could create "floating cities" in the Venusian atmosphere.

And of course Mars is marginally habitable- it's actually not much harsher than what we see in Antarctica (which is why we will make an attempt at colonizing it in the 2020s.)

Will the Gaia mission be able to elucidate much further which exoplanets might be habitable for our species?

Source of the post Yes, SE uses some factors to determine the final conditions. These parameters affecting it, and varies on each planet:

Right, but by "intrinsic variability" I meant the variability not between planets but within each planet.For example, the Earth's environmental conditions include temperature ranges that go from under -80 ºC to over +60 ºC (ignoring atmospheric layers or volcanism-related environments, which have much higher temperatures). What I was asking was if this variation was being taken into account or everything was based on global averages.

Source of the post Right, but by "intrinsic variability" I meant the variability not between planets but within each planet.For example, the Earth's environmental conditions include temperature ranges that go from under -80 ºC to over +60 ºC (ignoring atmospheric layers or volcanism-related environments, which have much higher temperatures). What I was asking was if this variation was being taken into account or everything was based on global averages.

Same has Gamadh, I wonder if you decide to release the SE version 0.9.8.1 this year ?

remember, its "coming to steam for sure this year" said earlier this year....

Not about steam but only space engine, like my 0.9.8.0. If i use space engine from Steam, that mean they need to connect on steam. So I don't want to use steam. because the steam requires connection with internet. If ever, I have a problem with internet or worse, I can't play Space engine. I prefer to stay in private without using internet connection, to avoid bordom. :/

Same has Gamadh, I wonder if you decide to release the SE version 0.9.8.1 this year ?

remember, its "coming to steam for sure this year" said earlier this year....

Not about steam but only space engine, like my 0.9.8.0. If i use space engine from Steam, that mean they need to connect on steam. So I don't want to use steam. because the steam requires connection with internet. If ever, I have a problem with internet or worse, I can't play Space engine. I prefer to stay in private without using internet connection, to avoid bordom. :/

but there is no "steam offline" option when there is no internet?

In such a hostile universe it is not necessary be the center to be special, just be alive